Test Your Knowledge Of The Triple Crown

Horse racing has the grand stage this Saturday as Smarty Jones goes for the Triple Crown. The Pennsylvania-bred hasn't been beaten, and the 2-5 odds say he won't be upset in the Belmont Stakes.

But since there are a few days to reflect on the Sport of Kings and its most regal of rulers, we thought this would be a perfect opportunity to test your Triple Crown knowledge.

If you get more than 15 of these questions right, you might want to consider leaving the simulcast facility and getting a real life.

QUESTIONS

1. When Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby, he was adorned with the traditional blanket of roses, thus giving meaning to the Run for the Roses. What flowered blankets are given when you win the Preakness and the Belmont?

2. Gallant Fox, the 1930 winner, is unique among the 11 Triple Crown winners. What was different about the Triple Crown races in 1930?

3. It was impossible for a horse to win the Triple Crown in 1922. Why?

4. Each leg of the Triple Crown has a song that is sung before the race. What are those songs?

5. Other than Funny Cide, who is the only gelding winner of the Belmont?

6. Smarty Jones is a Pennsylvania-bred. How many Penn-breds have won the Belmont? And, for extra points, can you name them?

7. Since the first Triple Crown winner in 1919, what's the longest amount of time between Triple Crown winners?

8. Secretariat was arguably the greatest horse ever. He won the Triple Crown in 1973. After he died, in the autopsy it was learned that his incredible running ability was aided greatly by what abnormality?

9. Who is the only Triple Crown winner to have a son win the Triple Crown?

10. Everyone knows the mint julep is the official drink of the Derby. (And remember you have to drink it by straw from the bottom or it's near undrinkable.) But what are the official drinks of the other two races?

11. Name the only jockey to ride two Triple Crown winners.

12. Only twice have Triple Crown winners met in a race. When, and what happened?

13. Unfair question. What are the names of the major newspapers in the three Triple Crown areas? (It's tougher than you think.)

14. Two horses finished off their Triple Crowns by having to beat only two opponents in the Belmont Stakes. Who were they?

15. Who stopped Funny Cide's Triple Crown bid last year?

16. Which Triple Crown winner lost to Seabiscuit in a match race both in real life and in the movie? (Movies aren't always accurate.)

17. Why does the number "31" have such significance in Triple Crown lore?

18. What's the most number of horses that a Triple Crown winner has had to beat in the Belmont?

19. Who has been the only Triple Crown winner that hasn't been part of an answer in this quiz?

20. What other major sport has a Triple Crown and who was the last one to win it?

ANSWERS

1. The Preakness blanket is made up of black-eyed Susan's, and the Belmont winner gets white carnations.

2. The Preakness was the first leg of the Triple Crown, held on May 9. The Derby was on May 17.

3. That year, the Derby and Preakness were held on the same day, May 13.

4. My Old Kentucky Home at the Derby; Maryland, My Maryland at the Preakness; and New York, New York at the Belmont.

5. Creme Fraiche in 1985. From 1918-57, geldings were barred from the Belmont.

6. There have been three: Saunterer in 1881, Panique in 1884 and Foxford in 1891.

7. It's the current streak of 26 years, since Affirmed won in 1978. Previously it was 25 years (Citation in 1948 to Secretariat in 1973).

8. Secretariat's heart weighed almost twice as much as a normal horse heart (nine pounds) and was about one-third larger. This allowed him to process more oxygen when running.

9. Gallant Fox won the Triple Crown in 1930. His son, Omaha, won the Triple Crown in 1935. Secretariat (Risen Star, 1988) and Seattle Slew (Swale, 1984) each sired colts that won two legs of the Triple Crown.

10. Not surprisingly, the Preakness has the black-eyed Susan, a mix of vodka and rum. The Belmont had the white carnation until 1997, when the marketing geniuses decided a change was needed. What resulted is the Belmont Breeze, described as a kind of "whiskey punch."

11. Eddie Arcaro won aboard Whirlaway in 1941 and Citation in 1948.

12. Seattle Slew, the 1977 winner, beat Affirmed, the 1978 winner, in the 1978 Marlboro Cup. But Exceller beat Seattle Slew and Affirmed in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

13. In Louisville, it's the Courier-Journal; in Baltimore, it's The Sun; and on Long Island (Belmont is not in New York City), it's Newsday.

14. Sir Barton (1919) and Count Fleet (1943) won the Belmont against only two opponents.

15. How soon we forget. It was Empire Maker.

16. It was War Admiral, who won the Triple Crown in 1937.

17. It was the number of lengths by which Secretariat won the Belmont.

18. Seattle Slew (1977) and Citation (1948) both had to beat seven horses in the Belmont. If there are no scratches, Smarty Jones will run against eight Saturday.

19. Assault, the winner in 1948.

20. To baseball traditionalists, there is no Triple Crown other than the one in their sport (batting average, home runs, RBIs). And the last winner is Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox in 1967. *